My 2 Pink Convicts (**long**)

[ZoSoSwiM]

Since I'm new to the board I thought I would share my tank with the forum B)

The tank is an Eclipse Corner 5 which is set up at my desk so I can watch it often.
Neutrally toned smaller gravel
3 small rounded rocks
1 long 2 holed cave style rock
2 silk plants for coverage
A bamboo style backdrop with black paper behind it
Light is hooked up to a timer

Living in the tank I have 2 Pink Convicts, 1 male and 1 female.

The story:
I got the tank last year and put 5 Tiger Barbs in by themselves and everything was going well. I moved home from college and 2 barbs died. I decided to restock with 2 fish from Walmart which was a bad idea and all my fish died within a few days. (Stupid Mistake... Shame on me) I then decided to leave tank alone until I moved back to school.

Moved back to school and set the tank back up. Cleaned it really well and let it cycle for a few days to acclimate to the room and it's self. Since the tank was un-populated everything was dead and no bad bacteria were still alive.

I went to the fish store in town and talked with the owner, I decided on getting 3 pink convicts of equal size. Got them home and introduced them to the tank. For about 3 days they only hid in the corner and behind plants. They weren't eating very much and I was getting a little worried. I read all about them and figured they were just scared and adjusting to the new tank. Within that week the larger male and solitary female paired off and left the smaller male alone. The large male kept fighting the smaller guy so I decided it was best to take the smaller male back to the store.

Within 2 days of taking the smaller male out the remaining pair were happily swimming around and were very active. Within about 2 weeks of first being put in the tank they spawned in the left side of the cave rock and I got pretty excited. 3 days later I had free swimming fry. Both parents were caring for the babies until about 3 days after they were free swimming. I then noticed both parents weren't paying any attention to the fry any more and the number of fry started falling. (Free lunch I guess)

Now my Convicts breed just about every 2 weeks. The tank has been totally rearranged by them and they've dug holes all over. It's amazing how large the rocks they can move are when they really want to. Both Convicts have their favorite spots in the tank and they don't fight. They play around but I've yet to notice any injuries. They eat a lot... Very hungry fish and they are very smart when it comes to knowing when they're getting fed. The female goes through cycles of bright coloring and more coloring while the male goes through cycles of care free actions to very aggressive towards me. Yes me.. He likes to flare his gills at me when I'm watching them but doesn't run away and hide. More like he's just showing off.

I've noticed an increase in the number of eggs the female lays each time, and they've become smarter about keeping the fry away from the filter uptake.


Some explanations..
I have my lighting cycle set from 11am to 10pm.. This limits the day so I don't get out of control algae and it helps in keeping them on a constant time cycle. Also in the morning when I get up and I'm at my desk they don't get as scared with the light off and me being right next to them. I've really found this to help in terms of them being scared or not.

I feed them in the evening in between 8-9pm... Best time for me since I'm always back here by then.
They're fed Frozen Brine Shrimp and Frozen Bloodworms with some flake food tossed in every now and then. I try to alternate the shrimp and bloodworms each day for variety. They didn't really like the worms in the beginning but love them now. (I've found that thawing the food in a small medicine cup for 10-15min is the best)

I do 20% water changes each Sunday With Stress Coat in the water to remove chlorine and such.. and I add 1/2 teaspoon of Stress Zyme bi-weekly.



Overall they are really happy fish and exhibit all the natural tendencies I've read about online. I've started feeding them a little less in hopes that it'll cut back my algae a little, but it's actually not that bad. I'm looking into getting a small heater for the tank because the temperature is fluctuating about 6-8 degrees between night and morning and I don't like that.

Anyhow, sorry for the long winded write up but I just wanted to share. I love these fish, I can’t wait to have the room and permanent location to get a large tank!


Some Pictures......

Just a pic of the tank overall before I put the cave rock in.

Mom in the cave.

Happy Fishies

Caring for the eggs...

Caring for eggs some more...

Dad

Mom


The End...

 

[SamUK]

dont mean to be an arse but 5G isnt even close to big enough for 1 con let alone a pair


id say you need 30 gallons minimum to house them properly.


this is my alpha male and as you can see. there not small fish.

 

[TurboVtec93]

I really enjoyed the read and the pics.

I agree that you should think about a bigger tank and a reliable heater is a MUST. I hope it doesnt seem like we are flaming you we just want to look out and help you and your fish.

 

[ZoSoSwiM]

I really enjoyed the read and the pics.

I agree that you should think about a bigger tank and a reliable heater is a MUST. I hope it doesnt seem like we are flaming you we just want to look out and help you and your fish.

I know that when the convicts are fully grown this tank with be too small. For the time being they are more than happy in this size tank. I am done with college (masters) in December and I'll be moving up in life.. hopefully. haha.. Anyhow I do plan on getting a large tank. Hopefully in the 75gallon+ range. They will be transfered at the time.

I have a while before they'll be too big for this tank.

 

[nadajdui]

I've always loved convicts, but it's so hard to keep them with anything when you have a smaller sized tank lol (33 gallons). Ah well, one day. Hehehe. I would love to have the experience of keeping them. They're such cool fish.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if they're spawning that regularly you've gotta be doing something right!

you know the lack of heater might actually be contributing to that, a lot of fish will spawn when they feel there are 'seasonal changes' a lot of people will feed a different live food then turn the heater down a few degree's.... the fish 'think' (sub-conscious i guess) that the season is changing and it's time to spawn.

None the less i'd still get a heater, you never know when the temperature's gonna drop suddenly and it could make your fish poorly.

 

[SamUK]

if they're spawning that regularly you've gotta be doing something right!

have you not heard the saying when talking about breeding cons?


"jus add water"

 

[ZoSoSwiM]

I did pick up a small 50watt heater. I set the heater to 79 degrees to start with but in combiniation with the light the water went up to 82/83degreees. The fish did become more lively at that temp but I don't believe it's a good temp for keeping them. I now lowered the heater to 75 which in turn keeps it heated to 79. So yeah. it's stable now and both convicts are a lot more happy in the morning and when the lights are off. The temp isn't up and down so less stress.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if they're spawning that regularly you've gotta be doing something right!

have you not heard the saying when talking about breeding cons?


"jus add water"

nope!

not my specialist subject, but even guppies won't breed if they're really unhappy.

not saying this is a suitable long term home for them. but don't jump down they're throat if the fish are OK now then it's enough to know they have plans for the future.

 

[cichlid-mad]

How meny convicts can u have in a 55g * 2ft * i was thinking in breeding 2 at a time?


would this work

 

[Zagggon]

I have a pair of convicts and a small pleco in a 10g and their 1st batch of eggs have just hatched and they are doing fine, that 30+gallon stuff is rediculous, 10g is fine for my fish.

 

[SamUK]

I have a pair of convicts and a small pleco in a 10g and their 1st batch of eggs have just hatched and they are doing fine, that 30+gallon stuff is rediculous, 10g is fine for my fish.

jus because they have fry doesnt mean there happy at all. im sorry but it doesnt.



and jus how are we talking rubbish? untill your fish live out there full life (which they wont in a 10) then you cant say were wrong.

How meny convicts can u have in a 55g * 2ft * i was thinking in breeding 2 at a time?


would this work

is the tank 55 gallon or 2 ft?


either way id only get one pair.


2 pairs will fight.



also there not the best things to breed as not many LFS will want them.

 

[jollysue]

They are truly interesting and personality with 'tude fish. The going joke I like on convicts is that they will breed in the bag on the way home from the local fish store.

On the fish not making the move home thing. If there are big differences in the water, then they may need acclimating. Of course there's always the possibility of the bacteria dying off in a move, or the fish getting too cold, or....

Glad you are enjoying your convicts. It is probably a little cramped, so keep up frequent water changes and filter media up keep. Your gravel is deep so it will need cleaning/vacuming. It is marginal, I would think. But marginal will often work for awhile with extra care. I managed 8 juvenal frontosas and two synos for about 6 months with lots of work! They actually behaved better than they are now with more room.

Was that little lady smiling coming out of the cave with the male? lol

 

[demonmagus]

I have a pair of convicts and a small pleco in a 10g and their 1st batch of eggs have just hatched and they are doing fine, that 30+gallon stuff is rediculous, 10g is fine for my fish.

jus because they have fry doesnt mean there happy at all. im sorry but it doesnt.



and jus how are we talking rubbish? untill your fish live out there full life (which they wont in a 10) then you cant say were wrong.

How meny convicts can u have in a 55g * 2ft * i was thinking in breeding 2 at a time?


would this work

is the tank 55 gallon or 2 ft?


either way id only get one pair.


2 pairs will fight.



also there not the best things to breed as not many LFS will want them.

its both, I believe he has a 2ft cube

 

[kubora666]

sam uk as i can see ur convict isnt a small fish, nor is it a big fish, try comparing it to a vieja or red devil ?
i agree the tank is too small but for the moment they are fine, jsut try and save up some money to buy them a better tank. until they get abit bigger they will be fine.